The NBA has opened up investigations into possible tampering violations involving two sign-and-trade deals completed in free agency, including Chicago's acquisition of New Orleans's Lonzo Ball and Miami's acquisition of Toronto's Kyle Lowry, sources told ESPN on Saturday.
The NBA's probe will examine illegal contact among teams and players ahead of the opening of free agency on Monday at 6 p.m. ET, sources told ESPN. Team executives, players agents and players have been notified of the opening of the league office's investigations, sources said.
The NBA instituted more stringent penalties in these cases in 2019, including raising the maximum fine for teams to $10 million and including the possibility of suspending team executives, forfeiting draft picks and even the voiding of contracts.